Air injection apparatus for well water system



July 23, 1968 M. J. MIEDANER ET AL 3,393,641

AIR INJECTION APPARATUS FOR WELL WATER SYSTEM July 23, 1968 M. J,Mlr-:DANER ET AL 3,393,641

AIR INJECTION APPARATUS FOR WELL WATER SYSTEM Filed May 4, 1967 2Sheets-Shea? 2 l INVE NTBS M16/49:4 d. M/EDH/ve@ au/ se E, M/EonA/.ee

ATTOENEYS United States Patent O 3,393,641 AIR INJECTION APPARATUS FORWELL WATER SYSTEM Michael J. Miedaner and Louise R. Miedaner, both of321 E. 1st St., Hayward, Wis. 54843 Continuation-impart of applicationSer. No. 471,663, July 13, 1965. This application May 4, 1967, Ser. No.636,133

7 Claims. (Cl. 1036) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed herein is anair injection valve for the water tank of a well water system fed by asubmersible pump in which the valve is powered by a motor electricallycontrolled in synchronism with the pump, thus to inject a charge of aireach time the pump operates. The motor can be electric or vacuumpowered. In the case of a vacuum powered pump, the source of vacuum Iisan aspirator associated with the water pipe from the submersible pump tothe water tank.

Cross reference to related application This application is acontinuation-in-part of our copendlng U.S. patent application Ser. No.471,663, filed July 13, 1965, now abandoned.

Background of the invention It is conventional in well water systems toprovide an air injection valve for the water storage tank toperiodically add air to the air head at the top of the tank. The airhead is under compression to provide .sufficient pressure to force thewater through the distributing pipes in the system. The air in the headwill gradually be absorbed by the water. Accordingly, it is necessary toperiodically add air to the head, or the system will become air boundand will no longer function.

In well water systems incorporating jet pumps which produce vacuum tolift the water from the well, it is conventional to actuate such an airinjection valve from the vacuum Iside of the jet pump. The air injectionvalve cycles with the pump, thus to inject Vair into the tank every timethe pump operates.

As water tables drop and it becomes necessary to drive wells to deeplevels at which jet pumps will not function, it is becoming increasinglynecessary to furnish such deeper wells with submersible positivedisplacement pumps capable of lifting water to much greater heights.However, this presents a problem in actuating the air injection valvebecause the source of vacuum otherwise provided by the jet pump is nolonger available.

Summary of the invention In accordance with the present invention, thesame electric signal that initiates pumping action of the submersiblepump triggers the motor of the air injection valve to cause the valve toinject a charge of -air into the water tank each time the submersible-pump is cycled.

In one embodiment of the invention, the valve rnotor is an electricmotor, such as a solenoid, and in another embodiment of the inventionthe valve motor is a vacuum motor for which the source of vacuum is anaspirator coupled to the water pipe from the submersible pump to thewater tank. In the case of the vacuum motor embodiment, the valve islatched open so that the vacuum motor can be relieved of vacuum once thevalve is in open position, thus to reduce back pressure against thesubmersible pump.

Description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a vertical cross section takenthrough one 3,393,641 Patented July 23, 1968 embodiment of theinvention, parts thereof being shown diagrammatically.

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken through a solenoid operated airinjection valve of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary diagrammatic views showing the positionof various parts of the valve during various parts of the cycle ofoperation of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a View similar to FIG. 1, `but showing another embodiment ofthe invention in which the -air injection valve is powered by vacuum.

FIG. 8 is a cross section of the valve of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is -a cross section taken through the vacuum aspirator andelectric controller therefor.

Description of the preferred embodiments Although the disclosure hereofis detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplifythe invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. Thescope of the invention is defined in the claims lappended hereto.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6 inclusive will bedescribed rst. Thereafter, the embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 will bedescribed. Like parts are identified by the same reference characters inthe several views.

The well 10 is provided with a conventional, electric motor driven,submersible pump 11, submerged below the water level 12. It supplieswater to the storage tank 13 through pipe 14. The pump 11 is set tomaintain the water 15 in the tank 13 Vat a predetermined pressure,sensed `by the pressure sensitive electric switch 16. When the pressurein tank 13 drops below that for which the switch 16 is set, an electriccircuit is closed to energize the pump 11, thus to force more Water fromwell 10 into the tank 13. This continues until the switch 16 open-s inresponse to the attainment of the preset pressure level.

Tank 13 is provided with a head of air 17 which maintains pressure onthe using system. Water is supplied to the using system through a pipe18.

In a home, for example, the opening of any faucet or the operation ofany water using appliances will draw water from tank 13 through pipe 18.This water will be `forced through the pipe 18 under pressure of airhe'ad 17.

It is important to maintain an adequate volume of air in head 17. Thisair tends to be absorbed by the water 15. In order to periodically addair to the tank, to make up for air absorbed in the water, an airinjection valve 21 is provided. Details of the valve 21 are shown inFIG. 2. Valve 21 has a body 23 connected to the tank 13 through pipe 22.Pipe 22 is threaded into a tapped opening 20 in valve body 23. Body 23has an internal cavity 26 dened by oppositely curved walls 24, 25. Adiaphragm 27 is disposed in cavity 26. The rim of the diaphragm isclamped between peripheral portions of the walls 24, 25 under pressureof the clamp bolts 28. Diaphragm is made of any suitable flexiblematerial, such as rubber.

The center of diaphragm 27 is connected by coupling 35 to the operatingstem 3'1 of the armature plunger 33 of an electric motor such assolenoid 32. Solenoid 32 is attached to its housing 29 on pin 30.Armature plunger 33 is pivotally connected to stem 31 on pin 34. Stem 31extends into cavity 2-6 through a central opening 36 in partition plate37 which is disposed in an opening 38 in wall 24 of the valve body 23. Asealing washer 39 may also be provided to seal against the stem 31.

Plate 37 also provides a seat for a coil spring 41 which biases thediaphragm 27 into contact with wall 25 which functions as a diaphragmseat. When in this position,

3 as shown in FIG. 2, the diaphragm 27 closes ports 42 and 43 formed inwall 25.

Port 42 is the air exhaust port of valve 21. It cornmunic'ates throughduct 40 and the orifice 62 in plug 61 with pipe 22.

Port 43 is the air intake port of valve 21. It communicates with a checkvalve chamber 44 in the valve body 23. Chamber 44 con'tains spring 45which biases check valve plug 46 against valve seat insert 47. Seatinsert 47 has a central orifice or duct 48 which communicates with theatmosphere through the central opening 51 in retaining cap 52 which isscrewed onto a threaded nipple 5'3 formed on the valve body 23.Desirably, a iilter screen 54 is clamped between the cap 52 and the endof the nipple 53, thus to keep foreign matter out of the valve 21.

Solenoid 32 is conventional. It includes an electromagnetic coil 55connected in circuit with switch 16 and line source 58 by electric wires56. The pump 11 is connected in circuit with switch 16 and line source58 by electric wires 57. Accordingly, both the pump and the solenoidcoil are controlled by the pressure sensitive switch 16. Whenever theswitch 16 closes in response to reduced pressure in the tank 13, thepump 11 will be energized and the solenoid 32 will be energized to pullthe diaphragm 27 to the left, in FIG. 2, to open ports 42, 43 to cavity26.

FIGS. 3 through 5 illustrate various stages in the operation of thevalve.

FIG. 3 shows the diaphragm 27 pulled to the left. This places cavity atsub-atmospheric pressure, thus to draw atmospheric air into the cavity26 through the inlet port 43. Check valve 46 will open under thepressure of the atmospheric air, thus to lill the cavity 26 with 'acharge of air. Spring 45 for check valve 46 is under very lightpressure, so that the vacuum formed in cavity 26 will vbe iilled withair, rather than by water backing up through port 42. The orifice 62 inplug 61 is Very small. The resistance olered to the water by the orifice62 is greater than the resistance offered to the ow of air by the checkvalve 46.

After enough water has been added to the tank 13 to restore itspressure, pressure switch 16 will open 'to deenergize the pump and alsode-energize solenoid 32. Accordingly, spring 41 will force the diaphragm27 toward the right, as shown in FIG. 4. Check valve 46 will close underpressure of spring 45. The charge of air 'in cavity 26 will now beforced through the `orifice 62 and pipe 22 and will bubble up throughthe liquid 15 4in the tank 13 to add it's volume to the head 17.

The cycle illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 will occur for each operation ofthe pump. If water use is high so that more air is injected into thetank 13 than can be accommodated between the level of pipe 22 and thetop of the tank, no more air will be added. This is illustrated in FIG.5 in which the water level 63 is below the level of pipe '22. When thepressure switch 16 actuates solenoid 32 to draw the diaphragm 27 awayfrom ports 42, 43, air from the tank 13 under pressure of head 17 willenter the cavity 26 through pipe 22, orifice `62 and port 42. Thepressure in cavity '26 does not go below atmospheric, and the checkvalve 46 will remain closed. Accordingly, when switch I16 opens,diaphragm will merely return to the tank the same air ypreviouslywithdrawn therefrom, with no change in over-all volume. This conditionwill obtain until suticient air 'in the head 17 is 'absorbed in thewater to raise the water in tank 13 to a level above the pipe 22, as isshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, whereupon atmospheric air will again be injectedfor each pump cycle las aforedescribed.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the valve chamber I26 is provided with a vent65. Vent 65 throttles the egress of air behind diaphragm 27 under thepull of soleno'id l32. The relatively slow release of air cushionssolenoid operation. Moreover, if there is any leakage from tank 13 pastthe diaphragm, by reason of a defective diaphragm, for

example, Water will be discharged through vent 65, thus to rid the valveof water and to ac't as `a signal of a diaphragm leak.

The valve 21 is also provided with vent openings 66 to the housing 29for solenoid 32. These ventilate the solenoid 32 which might otherwisetend to heat up.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the solenoid 32 is desirably supportedin housing 29 on spacers or ins 70. Accordingly, there are air spaces 71about the solenoids 32 for ventilation thereof.

While a solenoid 32 has been disclosed as the preferred form of motorfor the valve, any other form of electric motor could be used.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show the vacuum motor embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the solenoid 55 is not relied upon to pull thediaphragm 27 against the pressure of spring 41. In some embodiments ofthe invention, the strength of spring 41 must be quite high. In suchembodiments, solenoid 55 would have t0 be correspondingly large andcostly. To avoid this cost, the embodiments of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 utilizesuction to pull the diaphragm to the left against bias of spring 41. Forthis purpose, a vacuum or suction line 105 connects through the coupling85 to a port 91 in the wall 24 of chamber 26.

Vacuum line 105 leads to an aspirator tube 122 which lies inside of atubular housing 104 which is coupled in series with the water supplypipe 14. The aspirator tube 122 has a venturi passage 92 to which iscoupled the vacuum opening 107 of a vacuum line coupling 106 to whichthe vacuum line 105 is connected. Aspirator 122 has a tapered inletthroat 121. As water iiows through the tube 122 from left to right, asviewed in FIG. 9, the venturi effect in the passage 92 will create avacuum at the opening 107. This vacuum will be communicated through thevacuum line 105, coupling and port 91 to the chamber 26 in the diaphragmvalve 21 and will draw the air therefrom. Air at atmospheric pressurewill be drawn in and will force the diaphragm 27 to the left in FIG. 8,and compress the spring 41. In this manner, a charge of air will bestored in valve 21.

The action of the aspirator is triggered when the pump 11 is energizedby the pump switch 16. This occurs whenever the water pressure in tank13 drops to a predetermined level. Closure of the contacts in the switch16 will close a circuit through line 103 and solenoid 102 in solenoidhousing 101. Actuation of solenoid 102 will draw its armature 93 to theleft in FIG. 9, thus to turn the crank 110 connected by coupling 111 toarmature 93. Crank 110 is fixed on shaft 109 of butteriiy valve 108.When the solenoid 102 is thus actuated, it will turn valve 108 to aposition ninety degrees from that shown in FIG. 9. The valve will thensubstantially block the pipe 127 and require water under pressure of thepump 11 to flow through the aspirator tube 122. This greatly increasesthe effectiveness of the aspirator and the degree of Vacuum imposed online 105.

The plunger 33 of solenoid 55 will actuate the microswitch 81.Microswitch 81 has a lever 86 which will be actuated when the plunger 33is retracted to its extreme left position (in FIG. 8) at a point in thecycle of the valve when the diaphragm is also retracted to the left ofits chamber 26. Actuation of lever 86 will move switch arm v againstcontact 88 in the microswitch 81, thus to close the circuit to the coil55.

Energization of coil 55 will now hold the diaphragm in its retractedposition against the bias of spring 41. Coil 55 thus functions aslatching means to latch the diaphragm in the port open position to whichit is drawn by the vacuum motor. At the same time, contact 89 ofmicroswitch 81 Will be opened. This will de-energize solenoid 102 inhousing 101 and permit spring 113 in housing 101 to return butterflyvalve 108 to its open position, as illustrated in FIG. 9. This willreduce the aspirating effect through passage 92 and will also reduce theback pressure against the pump 11 and permit water to flow through mostof the cross section of the housing 127. While this will result inreduction in the vacuum on the line 105, this is of no consequencebecause the solenoid 55 is now holding the diaphragm 27 in its retractedposition.

When pump 11 has raised the level of the water in the tank 13 to itsproper height, the pump will stop operating and switch 16 will open.Water will no longer ow in the pipe 14 and aspirator housing 127. Thiseliminates completely the vacuum on pipe 105. Moreover, the circuit tothe holding solenoid 55 will be broken, thus allowing spring 41 toadvance diaphragm 27 to the right in FIG. 8, and inject a charge of airthrough orifice 62 into the tank, as previously described. Thiscompletes the cycle, and the apparatus will now :be in readiness for theinitiation of another cycle subject to control of the switch 16.

An important advantage of the invention is that the diaphragm willinject a charge of air of predetermined volume (the capacity of chamber26) each time the pump cycles.

W-hat is claimed is:

1. In an air injection apparatus for a well Water system including awater tank having an air head, a pump, a Iwater feed pipe from the pumpto the tank, a diaphragm type air injection valve for the tank to makeup for air in the head which is absorbed by the water and a source ofvacuum to actuate said valve, the improvement in which said source ofvacuum comprises an aspirator coupled to the water feed pipe, saidaspirator comprising a short tube in said pipe, said tube having a crosssection occupying only a part of the cross section of the pipe, and avalve lling a part of the cross section of the pipe not lled by thetube, and control means to close said valve momentarily to trigger theaspirator.

2. In an air injection apparatus for a well water system including awater tank having an 'air head, a pump, a water feed pipe from the pumpto the tank, an air injection valve for the tank to make up for air inthe head which is absorbed by the water, said val-ve having a springbiased diaphragm, a source of vacuum to actuate the valve to pull thevalve diaphragm against the bias of the spring and draw in a charge ofair, the improvement in said valve comprising latching means for thediaphr-agm to latch the diaphragm in the port openin-g position to whichit is drawn by the vacuum.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said latching means is providedwith trigger means actuated by the diaphragm w-hen it reaches its portopening position.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said latching means comprises anelectromagnet.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said electromagnet has a switch,said diaphragm having a switch actuator to close the switch and energizethe electromagnet when the diaphragm is in its port opening position.

6. In an air injection apparatus for a well water system including awater tank having an air head, a pump, a water feed pipe from the pumpto the tank, a submersible pump at the bottom of the well and remotelylocated with respect to the tank, a pump controller to periodicallyactuate the pump to supply water to the tank and an air injection valveadjacent the tank and remote from the pump to make up for air in thehead which is absorbed by the water, the improvement for actuating saidvalve independently of any need for a connection from the valve to thepump and comprising motor means for the valve separate and independentof the pump and adjacent to the valve and electric control means toactuate said motor means in timed relation to actuation of the pumpwhereby the valve functions to introduce a charge of air into the tankeac-h time the pump functions to pump Water into the tank, said motormeans comprising an aspirator coupled to the water feed pipe from thepump to the tank, said electric control means comprising means totrigger said aspirator.

7. In an air injection apparatus for la well water system including awater tank having an air head, a submersible pump at the bottom of thewell and remotely located with respect to the tank, a pump controller toperiodically activate the pump to supply water to the tank and an airinjection valve for the tank to make up for air in the head which isabsorbed by the water, said valve being adjacent the tank and remotefrom the pump, the improvement for actuating the valve independently ofany need for a connection from the valve to the pump and in which saidvalve comprises:

a body forming an air chamber having one side formed as a diaphragmseat,

a diaphragm in said chamber and movable from said seat to the other sideof the chamber,

an air inlet port with check valve at said one side of the diaphragm toadmit air Vfrom the atmosphere into said chamber when the diaphragm ismoved toward said other side,

an air outlet port at said one side of the diaphragm and communicatingwith the tank to pass air from the chamber to the tank,

a spring biasing the diaphragm toward said one side to inject airtherein directly through said outlet port into the tank,

motor means for the diaphragm to pull the diaphragm toward the otherside of the chamber and against the bias of the spring and draw in acharge of air through said check valve,

said .motor means being separate and independent of the pump andadjacent to the valve,

electric control means to actuate said motor means in timed relation toactuation of the pump whereby the valve functions to introduce a chargeof air into the tank each time the pump functions to pump Water into thetank,

said motor means comprising a source of vacuum for the air chamberbetween its said other side and said diaphragm, whereby vacuum inducedtherein will pull the diaphragm against the bias of the spring and drawin a charge of air through said check valve,

said source of vacuum comprising an aspirator coupled to the water feedpipe from the pump to the tank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,183,421 12/1939 Brady 103-62,416,345 2/ 1947 Piccardo 103-6 2,647,466 8/1953 Nash 103--6 X2,881,782 4/1959 Nash 103-6 3,162,130 12/1964 Glisson 103-6 3,207,0769/1965 Morgan et al. 103-6 3,318,324 5/1967 Ruth 103-6 WILLIAM L. FREEH,Primary Examiner.

